Category Archive for Tokyo + Japan
HANGRY & ANGRY H.NAOTO POP UP STORE, STUDIO ALTA. SEX POT REVENGE HARAJUKU. BUY PUNK CLOTHING JAPAN.
h.NAOTO’s cute Goth kitty clothing range, Hangry and Angry, held a pop-up shop in front of Shinjuku’s Studio Alta (right across the station’s east exit). Studio Alta is known for its gyaru (gal) boutiques, so it was nice to see a Gothic presence amidst the fuzzy boots and headbands.
The Hangry and Angry collection consists of plush toys and casual clothing, starring the two undead cat characters. Designer Hirooka Naoto has an impressive range (remember my photos of his Goth fashion show?).
I’m a fan of the cat-face bags. Naoto strikes a balance between spooky and cute, and pop-Goth-punk.
The Sex Pot Revenge boutique in Harajuku is (slightly) more punk.
I like the skull chains and black studded wrist cuffs. But it’s slightly incongruous to see DIY punk fashion in a meticulous (and somewhat pricey) store – don’t you think?
You can compared these Sex Pot Revenge store photos to the ones I took in 2008. Want to see more of Harajuku’s punk and alternative fashion? There are photos and length reports in my Tokyo shopping guide.
† Thank you to everyone who took part in the Ghostlove pirate jewelry giveaway. We truly appreciate your support. Chosen by random selection, the winner of the necklace is ZillowZollow (congrats!).
† Maggie Sensei, a bulldog who teaches Japanese, invited my Scottish Fold cat to be a guest lecturer. What’s Basil Farrow saying in the manga above? “I am a super celebrity. Try Googling me!” You can read the lesson here. I’ve found Maggie’s site to be very helpful for Japanese language learning; do check it out.
† Finally, Kawaii Kakkoii Sugoi interviewed me for their Cute Cool Awesome Japanese culture site. What does it take to run a successful blog? My advice for young entrepreneurs? My answers are here and after the jump.
Hangry and Angry: love or hate them? Thoughts on the clean manifestation of punk fashion in Japan?
Japanese Word of the Day: ググる (Guguru) = You’ll have to read Basil Farrow’s lesson to find out the meaning!
Song of the Day: KanonXKanon – Calendula Requiem (preview of the project between Kanon Wakeshima and An Café’s kanon).
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NUDE AND RUDE: TOKYO EMO GOTH PUNK ALTERNATIVE CLOTHING STORE, KOENJI ZOMBIE HORROR BOUTIQUE.
I’ve photographed pretty much all the Gothic Lolita Punk stores in Tokyo (all the posts are in my Shopping Guide) — but I’d never gotten around to Nude n’ Rude in Koenji. Til now. The boutique is an anomaly in Japan: the brands are American and British, and the clothing style can best be described as Emo / Scene / American Alternative.
Kana and I braved the rain to try on cute kitty bags and Iron Fist shoes. (Coming up on this blog — a zombie promo with the shoe brand!)
Nude and Rude carries neon Western alt/punk labels such as Kreepsville, Charles of London, and Jessica Louise.
Isn’t it funny how people want what they can’t have? We covet Goth and Lolita brands sold only in Japan… while the Japanese come to Nude n’ Rude for Western clothes they consider “special and rare.”
Kana picked up two bat hair clips. Raisu and Satsuki have the skeleton hands necklace on display.
Kana tried on several Shrine dresses (again, a US Goth brand that’s hard to find in Japan).
Whcih one do you like best on her? I’m a fan of the bat print.
Casual hoodies and cut-up band t-shirts. Sex Pistols, Bauhaus, Siouxsie.
The boutique was filled with old photos of Jeffree Star, Audrey Kitching and Raquel Reed.
You could pick up the latest issue of Girls with Corpses Magazine. Or a zombie eye bag.
I didn’t buy anything since (as a North American) I can find these Western brands everywhere I turn. However, I urge you to visit Nude n’ Rude, a unique indie store that sometimes throws colorful parties.
Just don’t be too cute… or you might get knifed!
For address and directions to Nude and Rude in Koenji, visit the store blog. You can see full reports about Tokyo’s best indie/alt/Goth/Punk fashion in my Shopping Guide.
Finally… unveiling our La Carmina & The Pirates business card! Our coolhunting / Japan TV arranging / promoting company is starting out superbly, so we decided to print full-color sticker business cards. (Who wants one?) Don’t you love the Pirate Basil design Naomi created?
What are your thoughts on “scene” and “emo” style? It often gets derided… However, I think these Japanese girls pulled it off relatively well.
Japanese Word of the Day: Kimokawaii = Creepy-cute
Song of the Day: NoGoD – Ring-a Ring-o
LA CARMINA
